WHL Eastern Conference Final Goes to Game 5 in Prince Albert Tonight — and the Silvertips Are Still Watching to See Who They Get in the Final

The Everett Silvertips have been on the couch since April 28, when Hayden Vanhanen scored the game-winner and Adam Miettinen tacked on an empty-netter to finish a four-game sweep of the Penticton Vees in the Western Conference Final. Twelve playoff games. One loss. Three series wins. A WHL Final berth and home-ice advantage in the bag.

Now they wait — and Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday, May 1, may or may not deliver them an opponent. The Prince Albert Raiders host the Medicine Hat Tigers tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT (5:00 p.m. PT) at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert with the best-of-seven series tied 2-2.

If the Raiders win, the series goes to a best-of-three. If the Tigers win, they head home with a chance to close it out at Co-op Place.

Either way, the Silvertips’ WHL Final opens at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett next Friday, May 8. The opponent’s just the variable.

Where the Series Sits

The Eastern Conference Final hasn’t been the runaway some predicted when the No. 1 Raiders met the No. 2 Tigers. Prince Albert tied things up Wednesday night with a 6-3 win at Co-op Place, scoring three straight in the second period after going into the intermission tied 2-2. The series now stands 2-2 with three games left to play if needed.

Medicine Hat coach Willie Desjardins didn’t sugarcoat it after Game 4. “We have to play better,” he told Medicine Hat News. Tigers forward Ethan Neutens said the team was “pretty lackadaisical in some areas of our game” and “weren’t winning our battles.” When you let the No. 1 seed in the East score three unanswered to take a swing series, that’s the kind of postgame quote you give.

The remaining schedule:

• **Game 5:** Friday, May 1 — Medicine Hat at Prince Albert, 7:00 p.m. CT (Art Hauser Centre)
• **Game 6 (if necessary):** Sunday, May 3 — Prince Albert at Medicine Hat, 6:00 p.m. CT (Co-op Place)
• **Game 7 (if necessary):** TBD if needed

Why It Matters for Everett

The Silvertips earned the right to host the WHL Final by going 12-1 through the West playoffs and finishing the regular season as the Scotty Munro Trophy winners (best regular-season record in the league at 57-8-2-1, 117 points). That means Games 1 and 2 of the WHL Final are both at Angel of the Winds Arena on May 8 and May 9 — regardless of which Eastern team comes out.

But the matchup matters from a strategic standpoint, and from a fan-narrative standpoint:

If it’s Medicine Hat

The Tigers are a Top-2 seed with elite depth and a goaltender, Harrison Meneghin, who’s putting up sharp numbers. Medicine Hat plays a structured, neutral-zone-pressure style that has given Penticton-style transition teams trouble all year. They’d be the more rested matchup, too — they finished off Calgary in five and only got their fourth ECF game on May 1. The Tigers are the analytics darling.

If it’s Prince Albert

The Raiders are the higher seed and the physical mismatch favorite. They have the league’s best regular-season defensive rating, deeper experience at every position group, and Prince Albert plays a heavy, structured game that typically slows down high-flying Western Conference teams. Anders Miller’s 8-0 / 1.55 GAA / .948 SV% playoff resume gets stress-tested by a team built to grind possessions and win in tight.

Either matchup is a real series. Neither team is going to be intimidated by the Silvertips’ 12-1 playoff record.

What Tips Fans Are Watching For Tonight

1. **Special teams.** The Raiders’ power play has carried them in this series. If Prince Albert keeps converting, they take this series in six.

2. **Goaltending.** This Eastern Final has been a goaltending-deciding series — the team with the better third-period save percentage has won three of the four games so far.

3. **The East’s third-period play.** Whichever team holds a third-period lead has won every game in this series. So when the puck drops at the Art Hauser Centre tonight, watch the second-intermission scoreboard. If a team’s up after 40, they’re probably winning.

What’s Confirmed for the WHL Final at Angel of the Winds Arena

• **Game 1:** Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena
• **Game 2:** Saturday, May 9 at Angel of the Winds Arena
• **Games 3-4:** At the Eastern team’s home rink (Prince Albert’s Art Hauser Centre or Medicine Hat’s Co-op Place)
• **Games 5-7 (if necessary):** Alternate between Everett and the Eastern host

Tickets for Games 1-2 of the Final are on sale through the Silvertips’ website and Ticketmaster. Demand has been heavy ever since the Penticton sweep — the Tips are 12-1 in the playoffs and back in the WHL Final for the first time in a generation.

The Silvertips Squad That’s Waiting

Quick refresher on the team that Game 5 winners will face:

• **Anders Miller:** 8-0, 1.55 GAA, .948 SV%. The best playoff save percentage among WHL goalies with 9+ games played, ever.
• **Landon DuPont:** Already at 13 playoff points despite being a defenseman. Shooting from the point with NHL-prospect confidence.
• **Hayden Vanhanen:** Game-winner Game 4 vs. Penticton; 14 playoff points and the team’s leading scorer.
• **Carter Bear:** 10 playoff goals, including a shorthanded shift-changer in Game 5 of the WCF.
• **Rylan Gould:** Two power-play goals in Game 2 of the WCF, including the loose-puck 2OT winner.
• **Anders Miller’s brother in arms — AJ Reyelts:** Has played sparingly but stepped up with a goalie clinic in OT1 of WCF Game 2.

This is a team that has scored 51 goals and surrendered 12 across 13 playoff games. They are 8-0 at home in the postseason. They have not allowed more than 3 goals in any playoff game.

The Eastern Conference winner has a problem — and tonight in Prince Albert, that problem will get a name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays in WHL Eastern Conference Final Game 5?

The Prince Albert Raiders host the Medicine Hat Tigers at 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the Art Hauser Centre. The series is tied 2-2.

What’s the WHL Final schedule?

Games 1 and 2 are at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. The series then shifts to the Eastern team’s home rink for Games 3 and 4. The series alternates from there if it goes longer.

Does Everett have home-ice advantage in the WHL Final?

Yes. As the Scotty Munro Trophy winners (best regular-season record), the Silvertips host the higher-seeded series throughout the WHL playoffs.

When are Silvertips Final tickets on sale?

Tickets for Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena are available through silvertips.com and Ticketmaster.

What’s Anders Miller’s playoff save percentage?

.948 across eight games — the best playoff save percentage among WHL goaltenders with nine or more playoff games played, in league history.

How did the Silvertips get to the WHL Final?

By going 12-1 through the Western Conference playoffs: a 4-2 first-round win over Spokane, a 4-1 second-round win over Kelowna, and a 4-0 sweep of Penticton in the Western Conference Final. They finished the regular season 57-8-2-1 (117 points), the best record in the WHL.

Who’s the favorite if it’s Everett vs. Prince Albert?

Toss-up. The Silvertips have the better playoff record and home-ice advantage; the Raiders have the deeper roster and a heavier style of play that has given high-octane teams problems all year. Vegas would probably set Everett at -130 to -150 in that matchup.

Who’s the favorite if it’s Everett vs. Medicine Hat?

Slight edge to the Silvertips. Medicine Hat has elite goaltending and structure, but the Tigers have shown vulnerability in this series and don’t have the same depth advantage.